TOM Lancashire underlined his standing as one of the hottest young talents of British middle distance running with his first Northern title last Saturday.

The Bolton Harrier, recently named BEN Young Sports Personality of the Year, enhanced his growing reputation with 1500m gold in the Northern Under 20 Championships. The event marked the opening of the new City of Manchester Commonwealth Stadium, and Lancashire gave a performance worthy of the setting. Unwilling to be intimidated by opposition up to three years his senior, the 16-year-old produced a fearless display of front-running to leave his rivals battling for second. Trailing in his wake were London mini-marathon winner Chris Parr of Gateshead and Ryan McCleod of Elswick.

To his further delight, the winning time of 3:55.23 was a new personal best, with many more sure to follow as the season progresses.

There was frustration however for fellow Harrier Ian Bowles, whose bid for a 2000m steeplechase medal must wait after atrocious weather conditions led to a postponement. The event will now be included in the Wythenshawe Grand Prix meeting on Monday.

Matthew Hales took sixth in the Under 17 hammer, and Sam Aspen was also sixth in the under 20 women's 400m. In the Under 15 boys 400m, the club had two finalists in Ben Lomax and Anthony Wibberley, seventh and eighth respectively.